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Richard Hopkins
Born
Richard William Hopkins

(1863-06-22)June 22, 1863
Arkansas, United States
DiedJuly 10, 1924(1924-07-10) (aged 61)
United States
Spouse
​
(m. 1901)​

Richard Hopkins (June 22, 1863 – July 10, 1924), was an American chess player. Learning the game at an early age, Hopkins enjoyed success in several local tournaments and was considered by some to be a chess prodigy. Despite his early promise, Hopkins suffered from alcoholism and manic depression (thought to have been triggered by a head injury), adversely affecting his play and limiting his ability to consistently play at a competitive level.[1] He is best known for discovering and introducing the Hopkins Gambit, an aggressive variation of the Ruy Lopez. In his later years, Hopkins was a writer for his local newspaper.[2]

List of hoaxes on Wikipedia/Richard Hopkins
Service / branchUnited States Army seal United States Army
Years of service1898
RankFirst Lieutenant
Battles / warsSpanish-American War
Richard Hopkins autograph from his autobiography My Life

Early life

Richard William Hopkins was born to William and Sarah Hopkins on June 22, 1863 in a rural farm town in Arkansas. His father was a Baptist minister and his mother worked as a shop keeper.[3] At an early age, Hopkins learned how to play chess on an old antique chess board rumored to have once belonged to George Washington.[4] Showing remarkable skill, his father placed bets with men in local taverns, challenging them to play a game with his son.[5] Based on his playing ability and the fact that his father was a minister, Hopkins gained the nickname "Jesus", which Hopkins strongly detested, believing the nickname to be blasphemous.[5]

Military service

Drawn to the patriotic call for war against Spain, Hopkins enlisted into the army.[6] He trained in Charleston in a cavalry unit until he was deployed to Cuba.[7]

Battle of San Juan Hill

Charge of the Rough Riders at San Juan Hill by Frederic Remington. Richard Hopkins was among the men who charged up San Juan Hill, on July 1st, as well as Kettle Hill later in the day.[8]
See also: Battle of San Juan Hill

After intense training, Hopkins was assigned to the Rough Riders under the command of Theodore Roosevelt.[9] Though not completely verified, Roosevelt was said to have played a game with Hopkins and lost.[10] During the Battle of San Juan Hill, Hopkins suffered a gunshot wound to both legs and a concussion after receiving a blow to the head by a rifle.[8] Faced with the possibility of death, Hopkins denied the surgeons permission to amputate his leg.[11] He spent days lying in a hospital bed and, to the surprise of the doctors, survived.[11] It is quite remarkable that he did not suffer from infection or succumb to blood loss.

Return to the United States

After his injury, Hopkins returned to the United States to recuperate.[12] It took roughly 40 weeks in order for him to regain most of the function in his legs. However, due to muscle death, he lived with a slight limp and constant pain in his right leg.[13]

Later life

After regaining full mobility, Hopkins returned to playing competitive chess.[14] However, due to the lull of alcoholism and depression, he was never able to return to his previous playing ability.[15] Although no one knows for sure, his depression was most likely caused by his head injury, and was exacerbated by the death of his mother in 1901.

In 1901, at the age of 38, he met Sunda Kuriond, a native of Massachusetts.[16] After courting her for two months, the couple decided to elope to Minnesota.[17] They had two children, Timothy and Samuel.

Hopkins often wrote articles for the Sturbgon Weekly.[18] His topics ranged from utopian idealism to chess problems for the "enhancement of the new generation".[18]

Death

On July 10, 1924, Hopkins was found dead in his bathtub at the age of 61. It was presumed that while bathing he became unconscious, subsequently drowning.[19] His body was cremated and, per his son's request, his ashes were subsequently scattered at an undisclosed location.[20]

Legacy

The life of Richard Hopkins is relatively unknown. The majority of what is known is derived from first-hand accounts of those who knew Hopkins themselves or Hopkins' autobiography, My Life, in which he describes information on his early life and his years in the service.[21]

Hopkins Gambit

This section uses algebraic notation to describe chess moves.
Main article: Hopkins Gambit

Richard Hopkins is best known for discovering the Hopkins Gambit, characterized by the moves:

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. c4?!

The main purpose of 5.c4?! is to solidify the position of the white bishop on a4 by deterring Black from playing 5...b5. In addition, c4 asserts some control over the center, in particular the important d5-square.

The rarity of the Hopkins Gambit in modern competitive play is due to the inherent weakness of the d-pawn, which as a backward pawn becomes a liability should Black take advantage.

Descendants

Hopkins had two sons, Timothy and Samuel.[22] According to his father, Timothy was considered the "brute of the household", and was known for his frequent use of opium.[23] On the other hand, Samuel was considered an "ideal son", but died at the age of 24 from injuries obtained in an automobile accident.[22] During prohibition Timothy was involved in operation of a speakeasy and was arrested twice. After World War II, he opened a bakery in Ohio, which he ran for nearly thirty years.[24] During his last few years, Timothy Hopkins tried to spread the accomplishments of his father to all who would listen.[25] He died violently due to a gang murder at the age of 72 while walking through East Euclid, Ohio.[26]

Quotes


Notable games

  • Richard Hopkins–Thomas Jewsbury, New York 1894, 1–0. Hopkins' first known usage of the Hopkins Gambit, employing multiple piece sacrifices and culminating in a beautiful checkmate.[27]
  • Samuel Braim–Richard Hopkins, Chicago 1913, 0–1. Regarded as one of Hopkins' best postwar games, and is generally free of errors. Many consider the game's tactical play to be virtually flawless.[28]
  • Richard Hopkins–Sreich Vukovich, Chicago 1913, 1–0. The aftereffects of Hopkins' wartime injuries are apparent, due to multiple inaccuracies in his play. However, Hopkins was able to take advantage of a mistake and win the game.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Eales, p. 185-186
  2. ^ Sunnucks, p. 310
  3. ^ Hopkins, p. 31
  4. ^ Hopkins, p. 36
  5. ^ a b Hopkins, p. 38
  6. ^ Hopkins, p.53
  7. ^ Hopkins, p. 54
  8. ^ a b Hopkins, p. 57
  9. ^ Hopkins, p. 56
  10. ^ Cartanian, p. 543
  11. ^ a b Hopkins, p. 58
  12. ^ Hopkins, p. 59
  13. ^ Hopkins, p.59
  14. ^ Pilgrim, p. 67
  15. ^ Cartanian, p. 544
  16. ^ Pilgrim, p. 114
  17. ^ Pilgrim, p. 115
  18. ^ a b Pilgrim, p. 104
  19. ^ Cartanian, p. 692
  20. ^ Pilgrim, p.43-44
  21. ^ Hopkins
  22. ^ a b Hopkins, p. 231
  23. ^ Hopkins, p. 827
  24. ^ Smelt, p. 412
  25. ^ Smelt, p. 414
  26. ^ Smelt, p. 1043
  27. ^ Cartanian, p. 132
  28. ^ Cartanian, p. 133

References

  • Sunnucks, Anne (1970). The Encyclopaedia of Chess. St. Martins Press. ISBN 978-0-7091-4697-1.
  • Eales, Richard (2002). Chess: The History of a Game. Hardinge Simpole Pub. ISBN 0-9513757-3-3.
  • Cartanian, Rashtra (1932). Young men of Arkansas. New York United Publishing.
  • Hopkins, Richard (1918). My Life. Pennsylvanian Publishing Corp.
  • Pilgrim, William (1953). On the Unknown men of the South. Johab Penguim Express. ISBN 0-524-38745-6. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: checksum (help)
  • Smelt, Derek (1988). Obituary Condensement. Printers United. ISBN 7-382-02847-2. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: checksum (help)

Category:Articles with inconsistent citation formats Category:1863 births Category:1924 deaths Category:American chess players Category:American military personnel of the Spanish–American War

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